If there is one reaction that people are having to the recent Roman Catholic pope it is his history and focus on service. Many questions are arising on his Maundy Thursday washing of feet. Some are welcoming the efforts with a sense of new found enthusiasm. Others see the new pope as abandoning the previous focus on tradition.
In the prologue to his gospel, John had informed his readers that there would be two reactions to the Lord Jesus Christ. Many of His people (Israel) would not accept Him; though “He came to His own … those who were His own did not receive Him” (1:11). In the first twelve chapters, John recorded the tragic story of Israel’s rejection of her Messiah. But though the nation as a whole rejected Christ, some individuals did receive Him (1:12). It is to that “little flock” (Luke 12:32) that Jesus here turned in the final hours of His earthly ministry.
As chapter 13 opens, Jesus’ public ministry to Israel has ended. After issuing a final invitation to believe in Him, Jesus “went away and hid Himself from them” (12:36;). The first twelve chapters cover three years; the next six chapters cover one night. In chapter 13 John tells his readers that the Passover Feast was about to begin, but he doesn’t tell his readers when and if Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples as their last supper together (Barton, B. B. (1993). John. Life Application Bible Commentary (267). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.)
In chapters 13 through 17, Jesus turned from public ministry to those who rejected Him to private ministry to those who received Him. He gave a practical demonstration of His continuing love for the disciples (13:1–17), assured them of the hope of heaven (14:1–3), guaranteed them power for ministry (14:12) and provision for their needs (14:13–14), and promised them the Holy Spirit (14:16–17; 15:26; 16:7), divine truth in the Word of God (14:26; 16:13), peace (14:27), and joy (15:11; 16:22). The common theme that runs throughout these five chapters is Christ’s love for His own. As His earthly ministry drew to a close on the night before His crucifixion, Jesus sought to reassure them of that enduring love He had for them.
In the account of the expression of Christ’s love, the washing of the disciples’ feet, we see 1) Service Stated (John 13:1), 2) Service Spurned (John 13:2), 3) Service Shown (John 13:3–11), and 4) Service Shared (John 13:12-17).
1) Service Stated (John 13:1)
John 13:1 [13:1]Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (ESV)
The Feast of the Passover was the annual Jewish festival commemorating God’s deliverance of Israel from bondage in Egypt. The name derived from the angel of death’s passing over the houses of the Hebrews when he killed the firstborn of the Egyptians (Ex. 12:7, 12–13). This Passover would be the last divinely authorized one. Notice that John, in mentioning the Passover, here drops the explanatory phrase of the Jews (11:55). It is not the Passover of the Jews which Jesus is about to celebrate, which had degenerated into an empty form (Vincent, M. R. (1887). Vol. 2: Word studies in the New Testament (224). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.)
From this point on there would be a new memorial—not one recalling the lambs’ blood on the doorposts but the blood of the Lamb of God (1:29, 36; Rev. 5:6; 6:9; 7:10, 17; 14:4, 10; 15:3; 19:9; 22:1, 3) “poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:28). The Last Supper celebrated by the Lord with His disciples gave Him opportunity to use the elements of the Passover meal to form a transition from the old covenant Passover to the new covenant Lord’s Supper /Communion(1 Cor. 11:23–26).
John repeated Jesus’ declaration that His hour had come (12:23); no longer was it future as in 2:4; 7:30; and 8:20 (cf. 7:6, 8). The Lord knew that the time had come for Him to depart out of this world to the Father. He was in full control of everything that was happening, and was never a victim of circumstances, or of men’s evil schemes.
Though He yearned to return to His full glory in the Father’s presence (cf. 17:5), Jesus never wavered in His focus on loving His own (cf. 10:29) who were in the world. “His own” are now the Twelve, the representatives of the new messianic community, no longer the old covenant community, which had rejected Jesus as Messiah (cf. 1:11; see also 10:3–4, 12; cf. 15:19) (Köstenberger, A. J. (2004). John. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (402). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.).
The Lord loved them to the end. Telos (end) means “perfection,” or “completeness,” and signifies that Jesus loves His own with the fullest measure of love. There is a general sense in which God loves the world (John 3:16) of lost sinners (Matt. 5:44–45; Titus 3:4), but He loves His own with a perfect, eternal, redeeming love—a love “which surpasses knowledge” (Eph. 3:19).
• The basis for godly service always begins in love for another. If our actions are motivated by self gain or guilt, then it is not service.
• Our love and service should flow out from concentric circles: Love of God, then family, then faith community, then world. To disregard a sphere above and skip to the next is a fundamental negligence of responsibility.
Please turn to Romans 8
The ability that we have to love and serve others, comes from the perfect love and work of Christ. No power can remove that love and no power can stop that love working through us.
In Romans 8:35–39 Paul exulted:
Romans 8:35-39 [35]Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36]As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."[37]No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38]For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39]nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV),
Hymn: The words of the hymn writer capture the Lord’s marvelous love for believers: ``Loved with everlasting love, Led by grace that love to know; Gracious Spirit from above, Thou hast taught me it is so! O, this full and perfect peace! O, this transport all divine! In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.
Even the imminent arrival of His own death could not separate His disciples from His love.
2) Service Spurned (John 13:2)
John 13:2 [2]During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, (ESV)
Please turn to Acts 5
The attention abruptly shifts from the brilliant light of Christ’s love to the satanic darkness of Judas’s heart. Even before this final supper began, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him. The contrast between Christ’s love and Judas’s hatred is stark; the latter provides the black backdrop against which the former appears all the more glorious.
When Satan and his schemes direct an individual, the consequences are always disastrous:
Acts 5:1-11 [5:1]But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, [2]and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. [3]But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? [4]While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." [5]When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. [6]The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. [7]After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. [8]And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much." [9]But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." [10]Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. [11]And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. (ESV)
• The Lord takes the fellowship of believers seriously. For those who would play games with His church or ordinances, the consequences are often tragic.
By humbly washing Judas’s feet, which He would shortly do, Jesus met the greatest injury and insult imaginable with humble love. Consistent with His command to show love to one’s enemies (Matt. 5:44), He did just that. But tragically, Judas was unmoved by the Lord’s manifestation of love for him; the same act that drew the other disciples to Christ repelled him.
• What should that tell us? Regardless of how loving or selfless our actions may be, there will always be some to use that against us.
• Irregardless, it is always the right thing to do the right thing.
Judas’s greed and ambition had long since opened the door to the Devil’s influence (cf. 12:4–6). Although the devil/Satan inspired his betrayal of Jesus Christ, Judas was fully responsible for his heinous act. His own evil heart desired the same thing Satan did—Jesus’ death. The devil/Satan and Judas were in complete accord; they were coconspirators in the plot to kill Jesus Christ. Soon, Judas would be under Satan’s complete control (v. 27) and would carry out his plan to betray the Son of God (v. 30; cf. Matt. 26:24).
• What should be clear in this instance, external influences can never be an excuse for evil or lazy inaction.
• We must never blame our backgrounds, schedules, or some other factor for the sin we commit or the service we fail to do.
Illustration: In Yellowstone National Park, there are large signs that say Don’t Feed the Bears! Tourists always disobey it. They feed the bears, and every year the park rangers have to pick up dead bears. The bears get used to being fed by the tourists and they lose their ability to fend for themselves in nature. They wind up looking for a handout, and when the handout is no longer there, they die.
Satan offers us handouts—a party here, a relationship there, a thrill here, and he gets us so used to him that we forget God. When he stops handing things out, when you lose the job, when life turns upside down on you, then you don’t know where to go. Satan has a strategy of tricking people into relying on cheap substitutes (Evans, T. (2009). Tony Evans' book of illustrations: Stories, quotes, and anecdotes from more than 30 years of preaching and public speaking (274). Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers.).
3) Service Shown (John 13:3–11)
John 13:3-11 [3]Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, [4]rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. [5]Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. [6]He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" [7]Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." [8]Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." [9]Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" [10]Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you." [11]For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean." (ESV)
John’s declaration that Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into His hands (cf. 3:35; 17:2; Matt. 11:27; 28:18), and that He had come from God (cf. 3:13; 5:37; 6:46, 57; 7:29; 8:18, 42; 12:49; 16:27–28; 17:8) and was going back to God (cf. 6:62; 7:33; 14:12, 28; 16:5, 10, 17, 28; 17:11, 13) reiterates and amplifies the apostle’s earlier statement that Jesus was about to return to the Father (v. 1). By stressing Jesus’ exaltation, John revealed the depth of His humility. Incredibly, incomprehensibly, the glorious Creator and Ruler of the universe was about to humbly wash the disciples’ dirty feet—a menial task reserved for the lowest of slaves (even Jewish slaves were not required to perform it, only Gentiles). “With such power and status at his disposal, we might have expected him to defeat the devil in an immediate and flashy confrontation, and to devastate Judas with an unstoppable blast of divine wrath. Instead, he washes his disciples’ feet, including the feet of the betrayer” (D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991), 462).
• One of the most effective tools that Satan has in his arsenal is distraction. He convinces us that we have more important things to do or there is someone else to do a particular task.
• Whether it is a prayer for someone that comes to mind, or a task that we see a need, God puts these awareness before us through His spirit for our ministry, another’s benefit and God’s glory.
Having walked through the dirt streets of Jerusalem to the upper room, the disciples’ feet, protected only by sandals, would naturally have been dirty, and while they were reclining for a long meal, offensive. Since there was no servant there to do it, one of the Twelve should have volunteered to wash the feet of the others. But the Lord’s admonition, “The greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matt. 23:11) had fallen on deaf ears. Instead of humbling themselves, the disciples were continuing their ongoing debate over which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24; cf. Mark 9:34), and angling for the prominent positions in the kingdom (Matt. 20:20–24). Although they no doubt would have been happy to wash the Lord’s feet, what they failed to realize is that as they did it for one in need, they did it for Christ Himself.
• A perfect example of distraction is to argue about how a task is to be done while continuing to fail to do the needed task. We feel that somehow we are doing something in the talking but the real work is in the doing.
And so supper began with everyone’s feet still unwashed, as each of the Twelve waited for someone else to take action. Finally, in a stunning display of humility that was also a pointed rebuke of the disciples’ prideful ambition, the incarnate Son of God in verse 4 rose/got up from supper. He laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, tied it around his waist/girded Himself. [5]Then He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel was wrapped/ girded around him. The rebuked, embarrassed, and chastened disciples watched in awkward, painful silence as the Lord, clad as a slave, knelt before each of them in turn and washed their soiled feet. When John the Baptist desired to give expression to his feeling of unworthiness in comparison to Christ, he could think of no better way to express this than to say that he deemed himself unworthy of kneeling down in front of Jesus in order to unloose his sandalstraps and remove the sandals (with a view to washing the Master’s feet) (Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 2: Exposition of the Gospel According to John. New Testament Commentary (228). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.).
• For those who are often doers, it can be difficult to receive. As parents we know the joy of receiving a meal from our kids, or to have another who is learning a task give it a try. There are even times of life due to physical limitation that we must overcome our pride and allow others to minister to us.
Not surprisingly Simon Peter, never at a loss for words, was the first to protest. When Jesus came to him, Peter, displaying the embarrassment of them all, asked incredulously, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” The disciples were still fervently expecting the inauguration of the kingdom (cf. Acts 1:6), and Peter was appalled at this act of self-abasement on the part of the divine King. For a superior to wash the feet of an inferior was unheard of in either Jewish or Roman culture.
Please turn to Matthew 20
But Peter’s outburst reflected his ignorance, as the Lord’s reply in verse 7 indicates: “What I am doing you do not understand/realize now, but afterward you will understand”. “Afterward/Later” is an indefinite time. Jesus does not say when it will be. But he does prophesy that one day Peter will understand what at the present moment is hidden from him (cf. 2:22; 12:16). In view of the later teaching in this section of the Gospel we may fairly infer that the primary reference is to the illumination of the Holy Spirit that was necessary, and that would be given (cf. 14:26; 16:13) (Morris, L. (1995). The Gospel according to John. The New International Commentary on the New Testament (548). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.).
Only later, after Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension, would Peter (and the rest of the disciples) finally realize that in the incarnation “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). (cf. 1 Pt. 1:18-19, 2:24, 3:18)
Matthew 20:20-28 [20]Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. [21]And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." [22]Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." [23]He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." [24]And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. [25]But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. [26]It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, [27]and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, [28]even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (ESV)
• How foolish it is to argue about prominence or credit for actions in the Kingdom of God.
• So remarkably profound is the fact that the very purpose for which Christ came, in ransoming His people from eternal death by satisfying the wrath of God, was through service.
As he had done once before (Matt. 16:22), in verse 8 Peter rashly presumed to tell the Lord what to do, declaring emphatically (there is a double negative in the Greek text), “You shall never wash my feet!” On one level, Peter’s refusal was commendable. At least he recognized the inappropriateness of a disciple allowing his master to wash his feet (Kruse, C. G. (2003). Vol. 4: John: An introduction and commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (277). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
Though Peter’s modesty may appear praiseworthy, the Lord desires obedience above all else (cf. 1 Sam. 15:22). Once again the Lord patiently answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share/part with Me.” ‘To have a share/part with Jesus’ means literally ‘to share things with Jesus’, or, less literally, to have fellowship with him. Jesus was saying to Peter that unless he was prepared to accept what he would do for him on the cross, there could be no relationship between them (Kruse, C. G. (2003). Vol. 4: John: An introduction and commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (277). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.).
Jesus’ self-humiliation in washing his disciples’ feet symbolized his self-humiliation in accepting death upon the cross to bring about their cleansing from sin. In this respect, Peter and the rest of the disciples must accept what Jesus did for them, for if they did not, clearly they could have no part with him (Kruse, C. G. (2003). Vol. 4: John: An introduction and commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (277). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
Theologically, Jesus’ reply served two purposes. First, it corrected Peter’s (and the rest of the Twelve’s) misunderstanding of His messianic mission. In His first advent, Jesus did not come as the conquering King but as the selfless sacrifice for the sins of His people (Isa. 53:4–6, 10–12; Eph. 5:2; Heb. 9:26; 10:12); to humble “Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8). Peter needed to accept the reality of the Lord’s humiliation.
• Are we so different? How often when an apparent injustice occurs we silently, or not so silently accuse God of wrongdoing. We wonder why He apparently does not act to bring justice. What we fail to consider is that if He gave everyone what they deserve, it would be judgment and His apparent delay is to accomplish His worlk of redemption which is of grace.
The Lord’s words also mean that only those cleansed by Him have a relationship to Him. Washing is a common biblical metaphor for spiritual cleansing (cf. Num. 19:17–19; Ps. 51:2; Isa. 4:4; Ezek. 36:24–27; Zech. 13:1; Acts 22:16; 1 Cor. 6:11; Eph. 5:26; Titus 3:5; Heb. 10:22), and only those who place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and confess their sins are cleansed by Him (John 15:3; 1 John 1:7–9) and are united to Him in eternal life. If they fail to do this, then they have no share with Him.
In keeping with his impulsive nature, Peter immediately jumped to the opposite extreme in verse 9 (cf. Matt. 14:28 with 14:30; 16:16 with 16:22; 26:33, 35 with 26:69–75), exclaiming, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Though he may have missed the Lord’s point and thought He was referring to a physical washing, whatever Jesus was offering, Peter wanted all of it.
• Do we whole heartily desire what God is offering even if we don’t know all the details? That’s what faith is.
Continuing His spiritual application of the principle of washing, Jesus said to Peter in verse 10, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet” In physical terms, those who have already bathed do not need to take another bath every time their feet get dirty. They need only to wash their feet because they are completely clean. There are two different words here used for bathed and wash. The first verb for bathed (louo) appears in the perfect tense, indicating completed action, obviously union with the Lord through salvation. The second (nipto), rendered wash, means precisely the kind of rinsing Jesus demonstrated on this occasion. A full bathing depicts initial regeneration; the repeated washings symbolize forgiveness of ongoing sinful behavior (Gangel, K. O. (2000). Vol. 4: John. Holman New Testament Commentary (250). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.).
Therefore the complete cleansing of the redeemed at salvation never needs to be repeated. God has graciously justified and imputed Christ’s righteousness to believers (2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:8–9), and His atoning death provides complete forgiveness of all their sins (Col. 2:13; Titus 2:14; 1 John 1:7, 9). But they still need the daily cleansing for sanctification from the defilement of the sin that remains in them (Phil. 2:12; 3:12–14).
Jesus then assured the disciples, “You are clean,” since they had experienced the cleansing of redemption. But that was not true of all of them—there was one notable exception. Since, as verse 11 notes, the Lord knew who was to betray Him (though the disciples did not at this point; cf. 13:21–22), that is why/for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.” The one who was not clean was, of course, Judas Iscariot, “Not all of you are clean. His is not a sin that merely stains the feet but a sin that marks him as being entirely unclean. He is not merely overcome by a fault but has completely (denied) the faith, is a disciple only in pretense. John repeats the pointed reference of Jesus, for this was a blow at the conscience of Judas, revealing his whole inner condition (Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The interpretation of St. John’s gospel (923). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.).
The Lord’s words were also a last appeal and warning to Judas who was on the brink of executing his wicked scheme. But Judas would not be deterred.`
• There is a sin right now that some here are thinking of committing. You wonder if its really that bad or if someone will find out. The example of Judas, and the rest who have given themselves over to sin is that sin itself is a betrayal of God. It says to Him that I’ve found a better way. Unfortunately the tragic results of that way are the loss of countless joys and greater suffering than we could have ever imagined
4) Service Shared (John 13:12-17).
John 13:12-17 [12]When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? [13]You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. [14]If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. [15]For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. [16]Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. [17]If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (ESV)
Having washed the disciples’ feet, and put on His outer garments and resumed his place/reclined at the table again, Jesus taught them the lesson He wanted them to learn. The theological truths pictured in verses 7–11 (Jesus’ humiliation at His first coming and the once-for-all cleansing of justification versus the daily cleansing of sanctification), though of great importance, are not the main truths the Lord sought to communicate. The primary principle Jesus wanted the disciples to learn was the importance of humble, loving service. That becomes clear because He said to them, “Do you understand/know what I have done to you? [13]You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. “Teacher and Lord (Rabbi and Mara),” the names of reverence, Jesus affirms this and states it in the ultimate sense: ``And you are right, for so I am``. Jesus is likely evoking God’s chosen way of identifying Himself in the OT—saying that He is Yahweh, the God of Israel and ruler of the universe (Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Jn 13:13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
At this supreme moment Jesus does not repudiate this high function, nor abate any of his lofty claims. So I AM—more, indeed, than “the Teacher,” more than “the Lord,” He is the I AM: “God was with him,” and be was Immanuel—“God with us,” and “Lord of all” (Acts 10:37, 38) (St. John Vol. II. 1909 (H. D. M. Spence-Jones, Ed.). The Pulpit Commentary (189). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.).
[14] If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” This was a crucial lesson for the disciples, constantly bickering over who was the greatest, to learn. If the Lord of Glory was willing to humble Himself and take on the role of the lowest of slaves, how could the disciples do any less? Jesus had once asked, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46); here He was in effect saying, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not follow My example?”
Some argue from this passage that foot washing is an ordinance for the church, along with baptism and the Lord’s Table (Communion). But Jesus said in verse 15, “I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done to you,” not, “what I did to you.” Christ did not tell them to do what He had done but as, or similar to, what He had done. What they needed was not an ordinance but simply one who was willing to do the thing that everyone knew needed to be done and everyone could have done but nobody did because they were too interested in being served rather than serving (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (Jn 13:14–17). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.).
• How often do we see this today?. Many people see an obvious need, but wait for someone else to begin. We have a curse of this generation where people will join an established ministry, but will not be the ones to organize, recruit, or work to help.
Thus, the major difference between Jesus and the Greco-Roman world on this point was not the concept of leaving an example but the nature of this example: wheras Greeks and Romans prized virtues such as courage or military prowess, Jesus exemplified humility, self-sacrifice, and love (Köstenberger, A. J. (2004). John. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (408). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic).
On the nature of this example, “Wise theologians and expositors have always been reluctant to raise to the level of universal rite something that appears only once in Scripture” (Carson, John, 468). (The only other reference to foot washing, 1 Tim. 5:10, is not in the context of a church rite, but of good deeds performed by individuals.) To elevate the outward act of foot washing to the status of an ordinance is to minimize the important lesson Jesus was teaching. The Lord gave an example of humility, not of foot washing; His concern was for the inner attitude, not the outward rite. The latter is meaningless apart from the former.
• How many activities have you elevated as ends in themselves, divorced from their meaning. How often do mealtime prayers, devotions, or heaven forbid, Sunday worship itself, come to that of an outward obligation, where the purpose is forgotten, and inward devotion lacking.
To refuse to follow Jesus’ example of humble service is to pridefully elevate oneself above Him, since as verse 16 says. a servant/slave is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him (cf. similar sayings in 15:20; Matt. 10:24; Luke 6:40; 22:27). No servant dares to regard any task as beneath him if his master has performed it.
• Now there are many ways that we rationalize this situation. We may not overtly say that we are above a task, but we wait for someone we think is better suited to act. Perhaps we say we are just not gifted to deal with a need or the we wait for someone to ask.
The significance of this comparison that Jesus makes goes well beyond honor, respect to the implications of action. Jesus used the same maxim when he warned the disciples of the opposition they would face: ‘Remember the words I spoke to you: “No servant is greater than his master.” If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also’ (15:20; cf. Matt. 10:24–25). (Kruse, C. G. (2003). Vol. 4: John: An introduction and commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (281). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
Please turn to Psalm 1
The Lord’s concluding thought in verse 17, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them,” reflects the biblical truth that blessing flows from obedience. The term blessed (μακάριοι) does not necessarily refer to those who are considered happy by others; nor even primarily to those who consider themselves happy, but to those who are indeed the objects of God’s favor, whether or not they are considered such by other men or even by themselves. The blessed ones may be poor and may even be mourning (cf. Matt. 5:1–12, The Beatitudes). The blessedness here spoken of is a matter not (at least, not primarily) of feeling, but of inner spiritual condition or state. … humility is of the very essence of his character, will sooner or later be reflected in his heart, so that he will possess the peace of God which passes all understanding (Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 2: Exposition of the Gospel According to John. New Testament Commentary (237). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.).
The opening words of the Psalms emphasize that truth:
Psalm 1:1-3 [1:1]Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; [2]but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. [3]He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (ESV)
This passage reveals one essential way that believers can obey God and receive His blessing: by following the example of His Son. “The one who says he abides in Him,” John wrote in his first epistle, “ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:6). Serving others in the humility of love is imitating Jesus Christ (cf. Phil. 2:5).
Poem: As Brian A. Wren said of our Lord’s Actions: Great God, in Christ you call our name and then receive us as your own, not through some merit, right or claim, but by your gracious love alone. We strain to glimpse your mercy-seat and find you kneeling at our feet. Then take the towel, and break the bread, and humble us, and call us friends. Suffer and serve till all are fed, and show how grandly love intends to work till all creation sings, to fill all worlds, to crown all things``. (Brian A. Wren (1936–) Reprinted by permission of Oxford University Press (USA and Canada; Hope Publishing Company, Illinois 60188, USA).
(Format Note: Some base commentary from MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2008). John 12–21. MacArthur New Testament Commentary (60–69). Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers)
